Automated deployment of pressure-drying apparatus for improved traction

Abstract

In general, one aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus comprising: a vertical support member pivotally mounted to any one of a wheel axle, chassis, or landing gear at a first terminal end and coupled perpendicularly to a horizontal member to an opposing terminal end; said horizontal member dimensioned with a first plurality of linear dispensing nozzles oriented towards a bottom portion of at least one wheel, and a second plurality of linear dispensing nozzles oriented towards a top portion of a driving surface, wherein the first and second plurality of linear dispensing nozzles are each fed by an air or fluid line that diverges from a single air or fluid line in operable communication with an on-board air-pressure unit; said vertical support member and horizontal member configured to extend into a down-right position electro-mechanically at the first terminal end, wherein the first plurality and second plurality of linear dispensing nozzles is positioned less than 24 inches from the bottom portion of at least one wheel and the top portion of the driving surface, wherein activation of the vertical support member and horizontal member extending into the down-right position and deployment of pressurized air or fluid from the first and second plurality of linear dispensing nozzles.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a vertical support member pivotally mounted to any one of a wheel axle, chassis, or landing gear at a first terminal end and coupled perpendicularly to a horizontal member to an opposing terminal end; 
 said horizontal member dimensioned with a first plurality of linear dispensing nozzles oriented towards a bottom portion of at least one wheel, and a second plurality of linear dispensing nozzles oriented towards a top portion of a driving surface, wherein the first and second plurality of linear dispensing nozzles are each fed by an air or fluid line that diverges from a single air or fluid line in operable communication with an on-board air-pressure unit; 
 said vertical support member and horizontal member configured to extend into a down-right position electro-mechanically at the first terminal end, wherein the first plurality and second plurality of linear dispensing nozzles is positioned less than 24 inches from the bottom portion of at least one wheel and the top portion of the driving surface, wherein activation of the vertical support member and horizontal member extending into the down-right position and deployment of pressurized air or fluid from the first and second plurality of linear dispensing nozzles; 
 a processor; 
 a memory element coupled to the processor; and 
 encoded instructions; 
 wherein the device is further configured to:
 receive input data; 
 based on the received input data, control an actuator at the first terminal end of the vertical support member to extend the member into a down-right position; 
 based on the received input data, activate the air pressure unit to control air and, or liquid flow through the single and, or diverged air or fluid lines; and 
 based on the received input data, deliver a drying agent to the bottom portion of the wheel and the top portion of the driving surface from the first plurality of linear dispensing nozzles and the second plurality of linear dispensing nozzles. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the input data is activation of a vehicle or aircraft anti-lock braking system and, or vertical stabilizing system for extension and deployment. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the input data is a sensed wet and, or icy condition. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the input data is received contextual data from a data source outside of a vehicle or aircraft. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the input data is a manual input by a user of a vehicle or aircraft. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein deployment of the vertical support member from an up-right position into an operational down-right position is achieved by a release of a tensionable spring coil coupling the vertical support member with any one of the wheel axle, chassis, and, or landing gear. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein deployment of the vertical support member from an up-right position into an operational down-right position is achieved by an electro-mechanical actuator housed at a coupling point of the terminal end of the vertical support member with any one of the wheel axle, chassis, and, or landing gear. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the housing comprises at least one actuator for causing pivot of any one of, or combination of, the housing and, or vertical support member in at least one axial and, or circular motion. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing at a coupling point of the vertical support member and horizontal member, wherein the housing comprises at least one actuator for causing pivot of any one of, or combination of, the housing and, or horizontal member in at least one axial and, or circular motion. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the supply line in operable communication with the air pressure unit and each of the plurality of linear dispensing nozzles is disposed with any one of a agent, such as an abrasive, calcium chloride, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and, or any anhydrous agent that forms a hydrate. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the supply line is in operable communication with the air pressure unit and an agent unit, wherein the agent unit houses any one of an agent, such as an abrasive, calcium chloride, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and, or any anhydrous agent that forms a hydrate. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the supply line is in operable communication with any one of, or combination of, the air-pressure unit, the plurality of linear dispensing nozzles, a desiccant unit, and, or a heating element. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of linear dispensing nozzles further comprises at least one actuator for causing uniform and, or individual pivot of at least one dispensing nozzle in at least one axial and, or circular motion. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each individual dispensing nozzle is angled such that output of pressurized air and, or agent is directed at an angle, whereby the output of pressurized air and, or agent rebounded from a wheel and, or driving surface is directed toward an undercarriage of the vehicle and, or aircraft. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising an air bursting effect unit housed within the air-pressure unit or outside of the air-pressure unit, wherein the air bursting effect unit creates intermittent air displacement and said air displacement is directed through the at least one supply line for output through at least one dispensing nozzle. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the air bursting effect unit creates the intermittent air displacement by actuating a valve into at least one other position at any one of an output of the air-pressure unit, at any point of the supply line, input of the plurality of dispensing nozzles, and, or output of at least one dispensing nozzle. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal member may further be disposed with a at least one wheel and, or ground clearance guard to create separation between any one of a top portion of a driving surface, vehicle wheel, and, or aircraft landing gear wheel. 
     
     
       18. A system comprising:
 a processor; 
 a memory element coupled to the processor; 
 encoded instructions; 
 at least one sensing means configured for detecting data related to traction conditions of a driving surface; 
 wherein the system is further configured to:
 receive input data input from a user; 
 receive input data from a data source outside of a vehicle and, or aircraft; 
 receive input data related the traction conditions of the driving surface; 
 based on the received input data, deploy a vertical support member from a rest position; 
 based on the received input data, control an air flow from an air-pressure unit; and 
 based on the received input data, direct the air flow through a supply line and deliver the air flow through at least one dispensing nozzle disposed on a horizontal member perpendicularly coupled to the vertical support member. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , comprising a communication protocol, wherein a CPU signals instructions to an on-board micro controller, said instructions configuring the micro controller for sequential or simultaneous actuation of control output of any of the air-pressure unit, vertical support member, supply line, horizontal member, plurality of linear dispensing nozzles, and, or at least one dispensing nozzle. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 18 , wherein the sensing means configured for detecting data related to traction conditions of a driving surface is disposed on any one of a housing unit, vertical support member, horizontal member, coupling points, mounting points, wheel axis, chassis, landing gear, vehicle, aircraft, and, or vehicle or aircraft pre-fitted wet or icy condition sensor. 
     
     
       21. A method comprising the steps of:
 receiving input data input from a user; 
 receiving input data from a data source outside of a vehicle and, or aircraft; 
 receiving input data related the traction conditions of the driving surface; 
 deploying a vertical support member from a rest position based on the received input data; 
 controlling an air flow from an air-pressure unit based on the received input data; 
 directing the air flow through a supply line based on the received input data; and 
 delivering the air flow through at least one dispensing nozzle disposed on a horizontal member perpendicularly coupled to the vertical support member.